Suffolk firefighters will be taking off their boots and holding them out to strangers next month in an effort to collect money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The annual “Fill the Boot” event will take place Aug. 13-16 at intersections and businesses throughout the city. In the 15 years of its participation, the Suffolk chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters has raised more than $410,000, Chief Cedric Scott said at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Firefighters nationwide have raised more than $530 million since the start of the program in 1954.

“It’s just a tremendous, tremendous effort that goes on all across our nation,” Scott said.

Andrea Shaver, a district director for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, said Wednesday that the firefighters’ union has been the organization’s No. 1 sponsor.

“We are on the verge of clinical treatments being developed and drugs going to approval by the FDA, really in the next year or two,” she said. “It’s only happening because of the support we receive from our generous sponsors.”

She thanked the firefighters — some of whom visited Wednesday’s meeting — and the citizens who give their spare change to fill the boot.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association funds research, provides health care services and support and advocates for muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neuromuscular diseases.

For more information about MDA or the firefighters’ partnership, visit www.mda.org.